[Community-service] How do you deal with doubt when performing Community service?

[Cheryl Fields]

Hi, I completely agree with Jonathan. It is also good to make sure that you
share the proper techniques and your limitations with others. When I am at a
site, the first item of business is orientation. While doing this with a
sighted person I educate them while they assist me. When it is set up as a
give and take situation things seem to work better. Don't be afraid to ask
questions, it is probably the question everyone else wanted to ask. Others
will observe your actions and usually follow your lead. 
When there is lots of push back at a location, exercise patience. Cheryl 

-----Original Message-----
From: Community-service [mailto:community-service-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of jonathan franks via Community-service
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2015 9:50 PM
To: Marianne Denning; Community Service Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Community-service] How do you deal with doubt when performing
Community service?

Hello all,
One thing I commonly do  when performing community services is to
demonstrate my capabilities that typically society would not view a blind
person could do. For example, I have taught a class of 3rd graders, offered
to give visitors a tour of the place I am volunteering, created and
implemented accessible games for the blind to the sighted community as well
as helped coordinate and participated in a birthday party event for homeless
children.

Actions definitely speak louder than words, it is a good practice to be able
to advocate for yourself vocally, however demonstrating these actions will
help at least a small subset of the population realize that we can defy
expectations. The more occurences that we perform these actions will
increase awareness and start to dissipate the stigma attached to the
capabilities of blind people.

I hope this helps

Best

Jonathan Franks
Board Member
national Federation of the Blind of Texas 1st Vice President National
Federation of the Blind of Texas- Austin Chapter



On 2/2/15, Marianne Denning via Community-service
<community-service at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I believe a part of the problem is that we are considered one of the 
> groups people volunteer to "help" so it can be disconcerting to the 
> general public when we want to volunteer.  I am also looking forward 
> to answers to this question.
>
> On 2/2/15, Hindley Williams via Community-service 
> <community-service at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>  Hi All:
>>  I am certain that many of us have encountered our sighted 
>> counterparts underestimating our abilities at service sites. As a 
>> division of the National Federation of the Blind, we know that we 
>> have the ability to serve and to teach others about our abilities. 
>> But dealing with others doubting our abilities is quite common at 
>> service sites, as well as other places. What are some ways that we as 
>> blind people can show the community as a whole that we are competent 
>> and able to serve? Or, in other words, what are some techniques that 
>> we can use when dealing with doubt from others?
>>  I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
>>  Best,
>>  Hindley
>>
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>
>
> --
> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
> (513) 607-6053
>
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